Kranjcar out for the season!

When Niko Kranjcar was stretchered off against Bolton recently, after what looked a heavy and without a doubt late challenge from Gavin McCann, few of us expected to see him play again this season... Hopes were raised that he 'might' even return in time to face Arsenal, but this will not be the case now as it has been confirmed that he will not play again this season!

Gary Sadler has confirmed on the Pompey Site that the initial mere 'soft tissue damage' is a lot worse as the MRI scan later revealed some 'irregularities', which have been confirmed after a meeting with the specialist as the Croatian pulling 'a little bit of bone away in the back of his ankle' and he will not play again this season: 'a scan on the Monday after the Bolton game revealed soft tissue damage.

'On Friday we took Niko to see our foot and ankle specialist, James Calder, who operated on his ankle earlier in the season.

'There were certain areas of the MRI scan which did not match up with the clinical findings that we had made throughout the week.

'So Niko then went for a CT scan to investigate the possibility of bone-related damage. That scan revealed that Niko had pulled a little bit of bone away in the back of his ankle.

'Unfortunately this type of injury means there is not enough time left before the end of the season for Niko to heal, be rehabilitated, return to training and play.'

Will we ever see Kranjcar pull on a Pompey shirt again though, as he is, or at least was, expected to leave in the summer?

Saddler expects him back fit for pre-season though: 'if everything goes according to plan and there are no setbacks then Niko should be fine to resume training with the rest of the team when they report back for pre-season training after the break.'

As much as you never want to see players sold I think he was one we were almost 'banking on' due to the fact he only has a year left on his contract.

But this latest injury - and ankle injuries are becoming a recurring theme with him - must cast doubts over this now? As until he is not fully fit no one will pay 'big money' for him in the summer as it seemed they 'might' will they?

So, perhaps we actually will see him pull on the Pompey shirt next season afterall, however this 'could' mean someone else that 'might not' have been sold will be sold now to 'balance the books', as chances are if he stays next season he will walk away as a free agent the summer after, or for a minimal amount in January...

Let's hope he sees the last ankle surgeon that Freddie Flintoff used who managed to sort out the problems caused by all the previous ones being so cack. Ankle solved so well that Freddie's knees have now gone out in sympathy.

Let's hope he sees the last ankle surgeon that Freddie Flintoff used who managed to sort out the problems caused by all the previous ones being so cack. Ankle solved so well that Freddie's knees have now gone out in sympathy.